Michigan is almost to the start of the season and ahead of schedule recruiting wise. There are a few more big events coming up like the BBQ at the Big House on July 31st. I outlined some confirmed visitors for the BBQ in last week's Weekly Update, which you can see here. Now here's a look at what happened this week and what's in the near future. As always you can follow me on Twitter @TomVH and email me with any tips or questions at TomVH@MGoBlog.com.

Royce Jenkins-Stone

6'2", 215 lbs.

Linebacker

Detroit, Michigan

There was a lot of noise this week about Royce and his teammate Terry Richardson potentially taking visits in the near future. I mentioned and figured that the visits probably wouldn't happen and them saying they would continue to visit schools wasn't a big deal. Since then, Royce has said he will no longer be taking visits and is happy with that decision.

What changed my mind was talking to Coach Wilcher and how he was saying I shouldn't go chasing schools. If I do it might seem like I'm trying to change my mind on my school. That's basically what the [Michigan] coaching staff said too. So yeah I'm good on visits.

This is the outcome that I expected. I don't believe the Michigan coaches will allow visits to happen for any commits. Nothing to worry about.

Jordan Payton

6'2", 199 lbs.

Wide Receiver

Westlake Village, California

I reported awhile ago that Payton had decided to decommit from USC and was very interested in Michigan. He told me that they would be a school he wants to visit and that he has a lot of interest. Since then he has scheduled his visit out to Ann Arbor.

I'm visiting on September 10th for the game against Notre Dame. I'm just excited to see the atmosphere and really experience everything Michigan has to offer.

Jordan also mentioned that he doesn't expect his recruitment to drag out much longer. He will potentially make a decision sometime shortly after those visits. I think Michigan has a chance, but I'm not sure where they rank out yet for him.

Adam Bisnowaty

6'6", 275 lbs.

Offensive Lineman

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bisnowaty is a lineman that not many people talk about, partially because he doesn't say much publicly. The Michigan coaches are still very much interested in him, and he took a visit to Ann Arbor a few weeks back. He was recently in Oregon for the Nike event The Opening. I caught up with him to talk about his experience and where he's at in his recruitment.

The Opening was awesome. The coaches were unbelievable and the competition was great. I talked to some of the Michigan commits and asked them why they chose them. I talked to everyone that was committed somewhere really. It was basically to figure out what they liked about each school because it's hard to see what stands out sometimes.

As you've seen numerous times the Michigan commitments love recruiting other prospects and they did a good amount of it at The Opening.

I know I talked to Erik [Magnuson] and he told me that Michigan was just the place for him, he just likes it a lot up there.

Adam's trip to Michigan was his first time on campus and he talked a little about what he saw.

We didn't get the full tour, because we didn't have a lot of time, we mostly talked to the coaches. The school itself is unbelievable, I'd like to see more of the school and meet a couple more players to see how comfortable I am with them. The main thing is that they're short on tackles. They were saying people can come in and potentially be on the second team just by walking in the door. Other than that they were telling me that people want to be at Michigan, they have a recruiting class now of like 20 kids.

He enjoyed his time up there, and said that playing time will definitely be a factor in his ultimate decision. He is also aware of Michigan's numbers recruiting wise but says that won't affect his timeline.

Playing time definitely factors in. Everyone's goal is to make it to the pros and you have to play to get there. I'm looking at the players, the coaches, how I feel on campus. I always ask myself If I could go to this school if I didn't play football. If Michigan's class fills up then it fills up. I want to go there for the right reasons not just because I need to hurry up and decide. If it's still available when I decide then I will definitely consider them.

Bisnowaty considers himself a finisher on the field, big on pancakes, and thinks he plays tough but not dirty. As he mentioned he didn't feel he had enough time in Ann Arbor so he would like to potentially take an official visit to Michigan to get a better feel for his comfort level. He's looking to make his decision relatively soon, he won't be waiting until after the season to decide. He'll potentially take a few official visits then make his decision.

Extra:

As I reported Thursday night, Cincinnati WR Monty Madaris was offered and is planning on visiting for the BBQ at the Big House on July 31st.

Ohio RB Bri'onte Dunn's father said they should know soon if they will be attending the BBQ. I'll keep you posted.

If you missed it I had an interview with Taft teammatesDwayne Stanford and Adolphus Washington's head coach. He said they are not likely to take any more visits in the near future because of AAU basketball.

A lot of people have been asking where Michigan's class could end up ranking overall on signing day. I broke everything down in this diary and gave you a decent look at where the class might end up being ranked. i said probably in the 7-13 range at the end of the day, if nothing changes [There is potential for the class to be ranked higher, this is just a conservative guess/projection based on the info we have right now].

That's a lot of stars for one class and puts into perspective the overwhelming firepower of some of the early Carr classes....not even counting the epic 1998 recruiting haul (Henson, Fargas, Terrell, Walker, etc.)

EDIT: point is we're returning to old form of dominant Michigan teams of the past

Yeah, and if Henson and Fargas would have stuck around, think how good we would have been those early 2000's. Navarre ended up being a decent QB, but if it would have been Hensen as a senior instead of Navarre as a soph, things would have been a lot different that year.

That jerk sabotaged Henson's extremely promising quarterback career by giving him a baseball offer he couldn't refuse even though he probably knew Henson wouldn't go anywhere in baseball. All so that his beloved Buckeyes wouldn't keep losing to Michigan (I hate the fact that this actually worked too).

The last I heard, Henson has retired from professional sports after lackluster seasons in the minors followed by a too-late effort to join the NFL and be the gunslinger he was supposed to be.

While he didn't do the other things you wrote, he also signed a $17 million contract and likely never has to work another day in his life.

On the other hand, John Navarre is now a plant manager for a steel company.

Are you really sure Mr. Navarre got the better end of the deal? Maybe in terms of your fandom, yes, but any objective human would argue Henson made the right move - financial freedom and a life of doing whatever he wants.

When I first heard about the Opening, I thought "what a great idea for Oregon... get all those elite kids in there and they'll fall in love with Oregon." Now from what we're hearing it sounds like it was a great recruiting event for ... Michigan. Our commits recruiting other elite prospects at another school's event? Love it. I know I'm exagerating, and I'm sure other schools (including Oregon) benefitted from it, but it does sound like the event worked out well for us.

On another note, I'm very impressed with the quotes from Bisnowaty, and relieved to hear that our commits won't be taking more visits. Thanks much for the info, Tom.

“The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

It doesn't matter what I think, it matters what the coaches have told recruits. If they're recruiting 6 O-linemen, and 6 O-linemen sign, that's it. Fin. Done. So no, they won't take Peat.

To flip the script here, do you think that if Richardson, Standifer, Gant and Wilson all sign on NSD, and Wayne Morgan wants to sign on NSD, that they're going to accept Morgan's commitment? NO. And why? Because of what they have told everyone - they're taking 4 DBs.

You're getting blinded by star rankings. The coaches all like the remaining offerees on the O-line. If they get the 6th guy, that's it, unless someone de-commits.

I disagree with a few points. First, Peat and Morgan are not on the same level. So that comparison is not a good one. Also, I think coaches say they want this amount, but if an elite at that position says he wants to commit on NSD and we are already at their pre-set limit, I think we take him. This isn't about stars, this is about elite talent. If you watch Peat's tape, it is obvious why you take him no matter what if given the opportunity.

"Tears are salty. Sweat is salty. One gets you pity, the other gets you results"

Ok well I just thought we were having an honest discussion. I would love to know how I am Nick Saban here.

How am I confusing our scholarship limits? Like the scenario Waggles pointed out, if we could easily take Pipkins, 2 Wr, Wormley, Dunn, and a combo of 2 OL and still be within our scholly limits. And not once did I say that this is what the coaches are doing. I am just saying that I have never heard of a top 10 talent being turned down by a school because they were already full at their position.

"Tears are salty. Sweat is salty. One gets you pity, the other gets you results"

You've never heard of it. You're being awfully selective here. That might have just happened to Gunner Kiel at both Alabama and Oklahoma.

This happens ALL THE TIME, you just aren't notified of it, and you probably don't pay attention to other schools where it's happening.

So take your baseline assumption that Michigan will take every high-level recruit to its logical conclusion. What happens if, tomorrow, Banner, Garnett, Peat, Diamond and Bisnowaty all call Brady Hoke and want to commit to Michigan. What does Hoke do? Does he take them all because they're highly rated and a school just cannot pass on a highly rated guy, as you suggest? Or, is it first-to-commit rules, as the coaching staff has repeatedly told its recruiting targets?

Ok, well what also could have happened with Gunner is that they realized he wasn't coming there and they signed another QB. But honestly if Gunner wanted to commit to OU then I still don't see them turning him down.

Ok well first, you have my baseline assumption wrong. I am saying that if a coach has a number that they want as a set point, then there it is perfectly reasonable to go one over a desired amount if it is for the right guy. Second, I wouldn't consider all 5 of the guys you listed as "must-get" elite talent. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have any of those guys, but there are only 2 or 3 I would consider "elite". But obviously Hoke wouldn't take all of them.

"Tears are salty. Sweat is salty. One gets you pity, the other gets you results"

Come on JG, you're entitled to your opinion but you don't have to be a dick about it.

No one disagrees with you that the coaches say they intend to take 6 OL. Where people disagree with you is how hard and fast that number is. You seem to feel this number has no flexibility, but I'm sure many coaches have taken more or less than they expected/wanted at a position group because of who ended up committing or not.

Just like I wouldn't expect the coaches to take a guy they didn't want to get to 6, I don't expect them to turn down someone they really want just to stay at 6. Yes, it's likely we take 6, but don't make it seem like it's such a crazy concept for them to take one extra if it's the right guy.

I'd be happy with that group, but I'd rather have another DL (Washington or O'Brien) over Fuller, but he'd be a good pick-up too. Also, if one of our receivers is Burbridge, I'd like the other guy to be someone more like Stanford than Payton.